Lawn Mowers

This Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HYC model is packed with features but there are a couple that we have not seen in other lawn mowers we have reviewed on this site that we wanted to bring to your attention.

First of all, there is the hydrostatic transmission that provides a variable speed system. There are nine preset speeds to choose from to match your walking speed and/or the thickness of the grass that you are cutting.

Then there is the four in one versatile system. You can convert within seconds from mulching to bagging, to discharge to leaf shred at your convenience. You can simultaneously distribute grass clippings to the bag and discharge.

Next is one of the few lawnmowers where you can keep the engine running and stop the blades from spinning. This is handy for emptying the bag of grass clippings without having to stop the engine.  The twin blades also cut the grass clippings into finer particles when you are in the mulching configuration. Refer to our specifications section and features section for more information as well as the dealer closest to you for more details.

We also really like the front-wheel-drive system, considering it much better than corresponding rear-wheel drive systems. Ground speed can be adjusted by adjusting the speed lever or simply by pressure on the handle such that you take some of the weight off the front wheels making the wheels slip a bit and ground speed slowing accordingly.

Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HYC – Specifications:

• ENGINE TYPE: 4-Stroke, OHC
• Honda ENGINE MODEL: GCV190
• DISPLACEMENT: 187 cc (11.4 CID)
• IGNITION SYSTEM: Transistorized
• STARTING SYSTEM: Recoil starter (Handle mounted)
• ZONE START SAFETY SYSTEM: Standard
• AIR CLEANER: Paper cartridge
• LUBRICATION SYSTEM: Forced splash
• OIL CAPACITY: 0.55 L (19.4 fl. Imp. oz)
• RECOMMENDED FUEL: Regular unleaded gasoline (87 Octane)
• FUEL CAPACITY: 1.1 L (38.7 fl. Imp. oz)
• FUEL CONSUMPTION (APPROXIMATE): 1.30 L/hr (0.29 Imp. gal/hr)
• CHOKE SYSTEM: Automatic
• TRANSMISSION: Hydrostatic
• GROUND SPEED(S): 0 – 6.44 km/h (0 – 4.00 mph)
• DECK SIZE: 53 cm (21 in)
• DECK MATERIAL: NeXiteTM polymer*
• GUARDS (MATERIAL): Optional (Stainless steel)
• DECK TYPE (STANDARD): Rear bag, mulcher, rear discharge
• CUTTING HEIGHT RANGE: 1.9 – 10 cm (0.75 – 4 in)
• CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS: 7 positions
• WHEEL SIZE: 23 cm (9 in) with deep tread
• WHEEL MATERIAL: High-density polyethylene
• BEARINGS WHEEL: Ball bearing on all wheels
• GRASS BAG: Standard
• BAG CAPACITY: 88.0 L (2.5 bushels)
• DISCHARGE CHUTE: Rear standard
• MULCHING CAPABILITY: Standard
• MULCHING PLUG/COVER: Standard
• SYSTEM MULCHING: MicroCutTM
• DRY WEIGHT: 43.5 kg (96.0 lb)
• BLADE (S): Standard (Twin-blades)
• BLADE CONTROL SYSTEM: Blade stop system (Roto-StopTM) standard
• STANDARD CONFIGURATION: 4 in 1: Mulch, bag, leaf shred, discharge

Engine: This Honda lawn mower comes with a 4-Stroke, OHC, GCV190, 187 ccs (11.4 CID) engine

Propulsion: The transmission is a variable speed hydrostatic transmission

Warranty: This lawnmower from Honda comes with a warranty of 36 months for non-commercial use and 12 months for commercial use.

Features:

• Recoil starter
• Seven position height adjustment
• Speed adjustment from zero to 4 miles per hour
• Rear bag, mulch, and rear discharge

Description of the Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HYC

One feature of the Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HYC that we are concerned about is the rear discharge feature. Although we have not experienced this ourselves we wonder about all of the grass clippings coming out the rear and hitting our legs as we walk behind the lawnmower. Occasionally there are sharp objects as well that are propelled out the discharge and we are somewhat concerned about being hit by one of these projectiles.

We expect that most people will only use this lawnmower in the mulching mode or in the grass catcher mode. At the time of writing this post, Honda had dropped the MSRP price by $150 to enhance sales as we approach the end of the season.

The current price and specifications are subject to change and can be adjusted by the manufacturer at any time. Check with your local dealer for the latest pricing and specifications.

For information about delivery methods for your lawn mower, accessories that you can purchase, safety rules to follow, proper operation, and maintenance information, go to our page General Lawn Mower Information, to read more about these topics.

This is another Honda lawn mower that comes packed with features. There is a rechargeable battery providing up to 300 starts which should be good enough for most if not all of the season. Just push a button and your engine is revving and ready to go. The auto choke makes it a an easy start every time. This lawn mower should be easy to operate.

It also comes with the hydrostatic transmission system that provides a variable speed operation with nine preset speeds to match both your normal walking speed as well as grass height or for transport to another location.

Keep the engine running while changing the bag for the grass catcher while the blades stop turning. Also change from mulching to grass catcher to side discharge in seconds. There is also a leaf shred capability.

Check out the long list of specifications as well as additional features that we have hi-lited later in this post. We like this lawn mower except for the rear discharge which we will discuss later on. Honda has also dropped the MSRP price by $150 at the time of writing to encourage sales as we approach the end of the season.

Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HZC – Specifications:

• ENGINE TYPE: 4-Stroke, OHC
• Honda ENGINE MODEL: GCV190
• DISPLACEMENT: 187 cc (11.4 CID)
• IGNITION SYSTEM: Transistorized
• STARTING SYSTEM: 12 VDC electric**/ Recoil
• ZONE START SAFETY SYSTEM: Standard
• AIR CLEANER: Paper cartridge
• LUBRICATION SYSTEM: Forced splash
• OIL CAPACITY: 0.55 L (19.4 fl. Imp. oz)
• RECOMMENDED FUEL: Regular unleaded gasoline (87 Octane)
• FUEL CAPACITY: 1.1 L (38.7 fl. Imp. oz)
• FUEL CONSUMPTION (APPROXIMATE):1.30 L/hr (0.29 Imp. gal/hr)
• CHOKE SYSTEM: Automatic
• TRANSMISSION: Hydrostatic
• GROUND SPEED(S): 0 – 6.44 km/h (0 – 4.00 mph)
• DECK SIZE: 53 cm (21 in)
• DECK MATERIAL: NeXiteTM polymer*
• Guards DECK (MATERIAL): Optional (Stainless steel)
• DECK TYPE (STANDARD): Rear bag, mulcher, rear discharge
• CUTTING HEIGHT RANGE: 1.9 – 10 cm (0.75 – 4 in)
• CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS: 7 positions
• SIZE of Wheel: 23 cm (9 in) with deep tread
• WHEEL MATERIAL: High-density polyethylene
• WHEEL BEARING: Ball bearing on all wheels
• GRASS BAG: Standard
• BAG CAPACITY: 88.0 L (2.5 bushels)
• DISCHARGE CHUTE: Rear standard
• MULCHING CAPABILITY: Standard
• MULCH PLUG/COVER: Standard
• MULCHING SYSTEM: MicroCutTM
• DRY WEIGHT: 47.2 kg (104.0 lb)
• BLADE (S): Standard (Twin-blades)
• BLADE CONTROL SYSTEM: Blade stop system (Roto-StopTM) standard
• STANDARD CONFIGURATION: 4 in 1: Mulch, bag, leaf shred, discharge

Engine: This  Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HZC has a 12 VDC electric-start, Honda GCV190; with overhead cam  and  Automatic Choke System^TM (ACS) with full throttle control comes with 187 CC’s engine

Propulsion: This lawn mower  has a front-wheel drive variable-speed hydrostatic transmission

Warranty: This Honda lawn mower come with a warranty of 36 months for non-commercial use and 12 months for commercial use.

Features:

• 12 VDV on board electric start
• Up to 300 starts per charge
• Recoil starter for backup
• Auto choke system
• Blade stop for safety and convenience
• 36-month warranty

Description of the Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HZC

The Honda Lawn Mower HRX2173HZC is a very convenient lawn mower to use with the 4-in-one grass catching, mulching, discharge and leaf shred system, electric start, self-propelled, and blade stop for safety. However we are somewhat concerned about the rear discharge and that grass clipping with be distributed behind the machine where the operator follows. We have not used one of these machines and so we encourage buyers to review this issue with the dealer to satisfy themselves that there will be no safety issue with this item.

The current price and specifications are subject to change and can be adjusted by the manufacturer at any time. Check with your local dealer for the latest pricing and specifications.

For information about delivery methods for your lawn mower, accessories that you can purchase, safety rules to follow, and proper operation and maintenance information, go to our page General Lawn Mower Information, to read more about these topics.

This Honda Lawn Mower model HRC216PDA, has an MSRP price of $749 at the time of writing. Check with your local dealer for up-to-date pricing and any changes to the specifications. Many dealers will offer sales prices and be willing to negotiate to increase their sales. If you are not in a hurry to find a lawnmower, shop around can compare prices.

It has a 21 inch wide cutting deck with a rear bag catcher or mulch configuration. It does not have a side discharge which some operators may look for.

This is a push-type lawnmower as well. This Honda Lawn Mower comes with a 160 CC engine and they claim it to be an easy starting engine. One big advantage of this lawnmower is the micro-cut twin blade technology. There are four blades that are cutting your lawn, which means that it cuts each blade of grass into a much smaller piece. Excellent for mulching as well as for bagging your grass clippings.

It also comes with a front bumper and edge guards that will protect both the housing of the lawnmower but also your lawn ornaments and other items that may be on your lawn as you are cutting grass. it also comes with a 2-year residential warranty and a commercial warranty on the engine of 2 years and one year on all other components. Read more for specifications and features.

Honda Lawn Mower HRC216PDA – Specifications:

• Engine GSV160
• Deck Material Heavy Duty 16 ga Steel
• Cutting Width 21″
• Mowing height range 3/4″-4″
• Mowing height adjustments 8
• Transmission None
• Ground speed N/A
• Starter Recoil
• Choke System Manual
• Drive None
• Handle 1″ Steel Tube
• Steel deck guards Standard
• Wheels 9″ Nexite
• Ball Bearing Wheels All
• Standard Functions 3 in 1 Capable: Standard Mulch/Bag, Optional Side Discharge
• Bag Standard
• Bag capacity (bushels) 2.5
• Blade(s) Twin blades (Microcut)
• Blade Control Flywheel brake
• Side/Rear Discharge Rear Mount Optional
• Fuel Tank Capacity 0.25 gal.
• Dry weight 97 lbs.
• Operating Weight 100 lbs.

Engine: This Honda Lawn Mower HRC216PDA Engine is a GSV160

Propulsion: This lawnmower is a push-type lawnmower.

Warranty: This Honda Lawn Mower comes with a standard

• Residential warranty of 2 years
• Commercial warranty of 2 years engine, 1 year all other components

Features: The major features of this particular lawn mower model from Honda include:

• 21″ commercial rear bagger/mulcher
• Push type
• Easy to start commercial 160cc engine
• MicroCut™ Twin Blades – better cutting performance
• Rugged, durable steel deck with front bumper and edge guards

Description of the Honda Lawn Mower HRC216PDA

This lawnmower comes with a height adjustment system of 8 positions from 3/4 inches all the way up to a 4-inch height for leaving your grass extra long. It is a recoil start, in other words, you need to start the engine by pulling on the starter cord. There is also a standard manual choke system that should be engaged when the engine is cold to enhance starting.

For the detailed specifications, read the list above, however, the most exciting part of this lawnmower is the twin-blade micro-cut system which provides four cutting surfaces to chop your grass into finer particles making it much easier to disintegrate if you mulch and bag if you plan to capture your grass and dispose of it by other means.

Mulching Grass

Many people prefer to mulch their grass for a number of reasons including that the grass provides nutrients back into the lawn as it decomposes and you do not need to deal with bagging and disposing of the grass clippings. The environmental advantages of leaving your mulched grass clippings on the lawn are superior to leaving them at the curb to be disposed of.

Finally, this is a push-type lawnmower. If you are looking for a self-propelled model you will need to consider another model that has this feature. Self-propelled models are very handy especially if you have slightly hilly terrain to navigate.

The current price and specifications are subject to change and can be adjusted by the manufacturer at any time. Check with your local dealer for the latest pricing and specifications.

For information about delivery methods for your lawnmower, accessories that you can purchase, safety rules to follow, proper operation, and maintenance information, go to our page General Lawn Mower Information, to read more about these topics.

This Honda Lawn Mower HRC216HXA currently has an MSRP price of $1249, although dealers may offer a different price and specific models may have slightly different features. Check with your local dealer.

The  HRC216HXA model has a 21-inch wide deck with a rear bagger and mulcher combination. This machine is self-propelled and comes with a hydrostatic commercial grade transmission system providing variable speeds to match your walking style or conditions as needed. Vary the speed from 1.8 to 4 miles per hour to deal with heavy grass, rough ground, or transport situations. The hydrostatic transmission provides a lot of flexibility that many other lawnmowers just do not have.

There are no belts to be concerned with as well since it is a shaft drive system. As with some of the other Honda lawn mowers, this one comes with the twin-blade micro-cut system, which provides four cutting surfaces instead of the normal two cutting surfaces..

This Honda Lawn Mower comes equipped with the Honda Roto-Stop system which provides several unique advantages compared to other models. You can stop the blades from spinning without turning off the engine to move something out of the way or get around an object. Operators can also use this feature during transport from one area to another. Stop the blades from spinning while you use the self-propelled feature to move the lawnmower from one cutting area to another!

Honda Lawn Mower HRC216HXA – Specifications:

• Engine GXV160
• Deck Material Steel – 16 ga
• Cutting Width 21″
• Mowing height range 3/4″-4″
• Mowing height adjustments 8
• Transmission Cruise Control (Hydrostatic)
• Ground speed 1.8 to 4.0 mph
• Starter Recoil
• Choke System Manual
• Drive Shaft
• Handle 1″ Steel Tube
• Steel deck guards Standard
• Wheels 9″ Nexite
• Ball Bearing Wheels All
• Standard Functions 3 in 1 Capable: Standard Mulch/Bag, Optional Side Discharge
• Bag Standard
• Bag capacity (bushels) 2.5
• Blade(s) Twin blades (Microcut)
• Blade Control Blade stop system (Roto-Stop)
• Side/Rear Discharge Rear Mount Optional
• Fuel tank capacity 0.37 gallons
• Dry weight 122 lbs.
• Operating Weight 127 lbs.

Engine: This Honda Lawn Mower has a GXV160 engine

Propulsion: This model HRC216HXA comes equipped with a  Cruise Control (Hydrostatic) transmission with a ground speed of 1.8 to 4.0 mph

Warranty: The Honda Lawn Mower model HRC216HXA has a residential warranty of 2 years and a commercial warranty of  2 years engine and 1 year on  all other components

Features:

• 21″ commercial rear bagger/mulcher
• Self-propelled, hydrostatic, commercial grade transmission
• Shaft drive (no belts)
• Easy to start commercial 160cc Honda engine
• Roto-Stop® blade stop system
• MicroCut™ Twin Blades – better cutting performance
• Rugged, durable steel deck with front bumper and edge guards

Description of the Honda Lawn Mower HRC216HXA

Other features that should be noted about this model of lawnmower from Honda include the front bumper that protects the lawnmower as well as objects you encounter in the lawn. It can also be used as a tied-down location while being transported in a trailer or the bed of a truck.

There are 8 mowing heights from 3/4 of an inch to 4 inches. The engine speed can be reduced to idle and the blades stopped while emptying the grass catcher bag. No need to shut the engine off and then restart it.

Commercial operators will appreciate an added safety feature. There is a manual fuel shut-off valve for added safety while the lawnmower is being transported. If you plan to not use the lawnmower over the winter, for example, this valve can also be shut off and the fuel tank drained to prevent old gas issues from occurring.

This Honda Lawn Mower model HRC216HXA can be used in residential or commercial situations and has many features that appeal to both environments and operators. Note that the warranty for a commercial operator is reduced to one year for everything except the engine which is two years.

The current price and specifications are subject to change and can be adjusted by the manufacturer at any time. Check with your local dealer for the latest pricing and specifications.

For information about delivery methods for your lawnmower, accessories that you can purchase, safety rules to follow, proper operation, and maintenance information, go to our page General Lawn Mower Information, to read more about these topics.

Organic Lawn Services covers a lot of things some of which we have outlined below and in previous posts. Our previous posts have discussed the height of the lawn and also the amount of water to apply. This post continues with the theme of organic lawn care. Discussing the types of fertilizer to use on your lawn to maintain a strong healthy-looking lawn that looks great. A healthy lawn can also fight invasions of various weeds and pests.

The principle mentioned in our first post about purely organic lawn care is to maintain a healthy lawn. Do this so that the weeds cannot compete with your lawn! A healthy lawn will do a lot more to keeping the weeds down. You can avoid having to use pesticides as well!

Refer to some of our previous posts that talk about PH levels, cutting and watering your grass, and digging out those pesky dandelions if you have them.

Types of Fertilizer to use for a Natural Green Organic Lawn

I have often wondered what was the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizer.  Well, it turns out that it is more to do with origin than components. Inorganic fertilizer is either mined or produced using synthetic manufacturing methods. It has nutrients added that are specifically for the plants you are trying to help grow. That is one of the reasons that fertilizer for lawns will be different from fertilizer for vegetables.

Organic fertilizer is made from organic materials such as chicken litter, manure, worm castings, compost, seaweed, guano, bone meal, or naturally occurring mineral deposits (e.g. saltpeter). The objective of many people when they use organic materials is to avoid the use of chemicals.

They often fail to realize or think about the possible contaminants that could also be in the organic fertilizers. For me, I want to stay away from pesticides. Since they have been proven to cause harm to humans as well as animal life. Whether I use organic or inorganic fertilizer is less important for me.

Add Lawn Fertilizer For the Best Organic Lawn Services

Whether you are using inorganic or organic-based lawn care,  you need to add the right kind of fertilizer to your lawn at the right time of year. There are three components to most fertilizers –

– nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

If you purchase a bag of fertilizer of  50 pounds, a 50-pound bag of 22-3-14 fertilizer has 11 pounds of nitrogen, 1.5 pounds of phosphorus, and 7 pounds of potassium in it. The rest is filler or secondary ingredients like iron that help the important components disperse more evenly.

• Nitrogen – aids in blade growth or the top part of the plant
• Phosphorus – aids in root growth
• Potassium – keeps the plant healthy and disease resistant

You need all three components to ensure you have a healthy lawn, the roots are deep where they can reach water during dry spells. The blades are thick and strong to resist weeds. The plant overall is healthy so it can maintain itself during harsh conditions such as too much rain or too little rain or even cold conditions. A strong healthy lawn also looks great too.

Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizers in the spring and early summer and then low nitrogen fertilizers later in the year as the grass goes into a dormant phase. For example, you do not want your grass growing during the fall when it is supposed to be entering a dormant phase.

Organic Lawn Services – Avoid Burning Your Lawn

High nitrogen fertilizers can also burn your lawn if not applied properly. Spread it thinly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Organic lawn care service people will tell you that organic fertilizers are lower in nitrogen content so there is less chance of burning or harming your lawn with organic-based fertilizer. Also, your grass clippings will contain all three elements. If you mulch your lawn clippings the three chemicals will go directly back into your lawn as food. It also acts as a blanket to conserve moisture as well for the roots.

If you are planning to use an Organic Lawn Service, always review with them what they plan to use, how often it will be applied, and whether you need to water afterward or not. Make sure that you have it in writing so that if you do not get the results you are expecting, you will then have something to back you up.

One negative side effect of having a strong healthy lawn is that you will need to mow the lawn more often since it grows faster. In addition, if you plan to use a mulching lawnmower, you should not let the grass grow more than one inch before you mow the lawn to obtain the most advantage from the mulching process. The lawn suffers less damage as well when you mow it more often and mulch the grass clippings.

This is a General Lawn Mower Information post about lawn mower delivery, safety, operation and maintenance issues. Be sure to always read your lawn mowers manual before operating for the first time. Become familiar with all of the features and the safety issues while operating your lawn mower. If you plan to do your own maintenance, the manual will provide lot’s of tips about this aspect. Make sure that the lawn mower is turned off and that the spark plug wire is disconnected so that there is no danger of the mower starting accidentally.

General Lawn Mower Information

Delivery: Most lawn mowers can be picked up in the store, however if you do not have the means to take it home yourself, delivery usually can be arranged for a delivery charge. Depending on the size of the lawn mower, than handles can be folded down allowing the lawn mower to be placed in your trunk. You may want to consider borrowing a trailer or a van to bring home your lawn mower and avoid the delivery charge. Some vendors such as Home Depot, Lowes and others will rent a van to you by the hour to transport items purchased at their stores. The rates are quite reasonable.

Lawn Mower Safety & Operation

All lawn mowers should be treated with respect. They are powerful machines and in the wrong hands can do a lot of damage. Start by reading the manual and following all of the safety guidelines outlined in the manual. Never work on the lawn mower without first ensuring that the engine is turned off and the spark plug wire is disconnected.

While cutting the lawn and using the side discharge, never allow anyone to stand beside the discharge or point the discharge at something that could be damaged by high speed flying objects  ejected from the lawn mower.

Always check the engine to make sure that there is sufficient oil in the engine before starting each day. Top up if necessary.  Fill the fuel tank while the engine is cool. A good time to do this is before you start cutting the lawn. Fuel spills can sometimes cause fires. If you do spill any fuel, wait until it evaporates prior to starting the engine to avoid any chance of fire. Always fill the fuel tank outdoors. Even the fumes can be dangerous. Never smoke around a lawn mower especially if you are filling it with gasoline. The fumes can suddenly ignite causing severe burns and worse.

Shut the engine off before removing the rear bag to empty it of grass or making any other kind of adjustments to the lawn mower.

Lawn Mower Maintenance:

Maintenance of the lawn mower  is pretty straight forward. Read the guidelines in the manual and follow them.  Arrange to have your engine tuned up once a year and the oil changed at the same time. This applies to most consumer applications where you are cutting your lawn once a week. If you are using the lawn mower for commercial applications you may need to change the oil more often.

Keep the housing free of debris to avoid the acid from the grass causing the housing to deteriorate. Also keep grass from building up around the muffler to avoid the possibility of fire. This actually happened to our lawn mower when I was not paying attention.

Check the spark plug to ensure that it is not corroded and dirty. Replace if it is pitted. Check the gap to make sure it is set to the proper specification. Always use clean fresh gasoline for your lawn mower. Following these tips and others in the manual will ensure that your lawn mower will last for many years.

We are doing a series of posts about lawn care and this post discusses your lawn PH levels and the effect it can have on the health of your lawn. Our initial reason for doing this series of posts was really about how to keep the weeds down and avoid have a lawn that looks more like a weed garden. Turns out there are a number of things you can do to keep your lawn looking great without needing a lot of chemicals, which we have listed below.

This post talks about the PH level, however, you should also review previous posts about watering, fertilizer, and general lawn care. These areas are just as important as PH levels.

In summary, Lawn Care is a list of things or steps that should provide you with one of the best healthy-looking lawns in the neighborhood. Our list as previously mentioned is:

• Mow high grass mow high weeds
• Lawnmower
• Lawn care must do: water infrequently
• Fertilizer
• Lawn care pH
• Weeds
• Lawn Care Enhancements

Lawn PH Levels

Turns out that dandelions like a lawn that has a PH level of around 7.5 and will thrive even more than they already do with a PH that is 7.5 or higher. If you have a lot of dandelions it could be that there is just a lot in the area, but it could also be because of the PH level.

There are PH testers on the market, however, some are not very accurate and it is better to pay a little more to get a good one than work with inaccurate numbers. Your grass would prefer a level around 6.5  which also deter the dandelions. Note that if the soil in your lawn is at 6.5 it will not stop the dandelions, but it should curtail them a great deal.

Test Your Lawn PH Levels

You can either purchase a tester to check your lawn’s PH level or arrange for a lawn care company to come around and test the lawn for you for a nominal fee. Of course, they will want to sell you a lawn care package, however, that is really the subject of future posts.

Once you have determined the accurate PH level of your lawn by taking samples in several areas of your lawn, it is time to add the appropriate chemical to change the PH level. Test your lawn at various locations. It is quite possible that your lawn could be fine in one area and in another location, the PH level could be a way off.  Check it all around the area under suspicion to make sure that you are only treating the area that needs treatment.

Use Lime and Sulfur

You use lime to raise the PH level and sulfur to the lawn to lower the PH level. How much of either depends on your lawn’s relative PH level and also how you will apply it. Application of almost anything to your lawn in too heavy a concentration will certainly damage your lawn. Use a lawn spreader to spread the chemicals so it is evenly applied and not so dense that it hurts the lawn. follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the best results.

There is a lot more about adjusting a lawn’s PH level that we can discuss, however, most people are not going to go beyond what we have discussed previously. Our recommendation is to keep it simple and follow the instructions that come with the bag. Have your lawn professionally tested so that you are confident that you will add the right chemical if any is needed. The entire neighborhood will be envious of your lawn and how healthy it looks.

In future posts, we will talk more about lawn care services, lawn soil depth, and some more about fertilizers and also about PH levels. Stay tuned.

Organic Lawn Care service covers a lot of things some of which we have outlined below. Our previous posts have discussed the height of the lawn and also the amount of water to apply. This post continues with the theme of organic lawn care and discusses the types of fertilizer to use on your lawn. Scroll down to the section on fertilizer to use if you have already read this general section on maintaining and looking after a  healthy lawn.

The idea as mentioned in our first post about purely organic lawn care is to maintain a healthy lawn so that the weeds cannot compete with your lawn! A healthy lawn will do a lot more to keeping the weeds down and you can avoid having to use pesticides as well!

Organic Lawn Care Service – Summary

In summary, Organic Lawn Care service is a list of things or steps that should provide you with one of the best healthy-looking lawns in the neighborhood. Our list as previously mentioned is:

• Mow high grass mow high weeds
• Lawnmower
• Lawn care must do: water infrequently
• Fertilizer:
• Lawn care pH:
• Lawn care weeds:
• Enhancements for lawn care
• Lawn Care Providers
  • What variety of grass should I plant?
  • My soil is more like dirt. How do I improve it?
  • How do I get rid of mushrooms?
  • My grass is all thin and dead-ish, what is your advice on overseeding?

Types of Fertilizer to use for a Natural Green Organic Lawn

It turns out that deciding what type of fertilizer to use on your lawn is more complicated than the writer originally thought. I have tried  to keep it simple over the years with my own lawn by following the steps outlined below:

• Fertilize 4 times a year
• Apply the right kind of fertilizer for the season
• Apply grass seed every year in the spring and also in the fall to keep it thick
• Keep the weeds down by having a healthy lawn

Now that we have been legislated to only use organic weed control, it means that we need that healthy lawn and we need to get down on our hands and knees to pull any weeds we do see on our lawn.

The above set of easy rules has served me well over the years and fortunately, my local hardware store has always had the right kind of fertilizer for the season that we were in. I did not really have to think about it at all. They always had the right stuff available, but I am sure there is a lot more to it than that, so I decided to investigate further to see if there is anything I could do to improve on the above pretty simple set of guidelines for my organic lawn care.

Organic Lawn Care Service – Seasons

First of all, you need to understand whether you have cool-season grass or warm-season grass. The kind of fertilizer you apply depends on the type of grass and also whether it is in a dormant phase or not. You could be applying fertilizer to grass that is in a dormant phase and really only helping the weeds.

Once you know what your grass type is and that it is not dormant, the next thing is the time of year. Spring is a strong growth period, while hot summers tend to be dormant. Fall growing is limited by the temperature you have to deal with. In cold climates, grasses go dormant much sooner than in southern areas.

Grasses like nitrogen so applying fertilizer with a high nitrogen level is always a good idea. Adding limited amounts of phosphorus and potash in the spring with more in the fall of these last two chemicals.

If this all sounds confusing, that’s because it is and most people do not want to deal with this level of complexity. They can either follow my simple rules above or have an organic lawn care service look after their lawn for them.

In future posts, we will talk more about fertilizers and also about PH levels. stay tuned.

Purely Organic Lawn Care was the topic of our last post. We are continuing this series about natural green lawn care with a post about the proper amount of watering for your lawn. It is important to realize that all of these things should be followed to ensure that your lawn is always green.

Natural green lawn care can be obtained by following some or all of the steps outlined below.  This post is going to discuss the amount of water that you should apply to your lawn in order to have a natural green lawn. this is all about having healthy grass to help it compete against all of the weeds.

A List of Items to Check for Natural Green Lawn Care

(Refer to our post about purely organic lawn care post to learn more about cutting your lawn at the right height):

• Mow high grass mow high weeds
• Lawnmower
• Lawn care must do: water infrequently
• Fertilizer:
• Lawn care pH:
• Weed Control:
• Lawn Care Enhancements:
• Providers
  • What variety of grass should I plant?
  • My soil is more like dirt. How do I improve it?
  • How do I get rid of mushrooms?
  • My grass is all thin and dead-ish, what is your advice on overseeding?

How Often Should you Water Your Lawn?

Watering your lawn goes hand in hand with cutting your lawn high and allowing the roots to grow deeply to take advantage of water that is deep in the soil. For example, if you water your lawn for 30 minutes every day, you are basically training the root system to only grow in the shallow part of the earth where the water is. The moment you stop watering the soil will dry up and the roots will also dry, possibly killing your lawn.

The trick is to water once per week and water for a long time so that at least 2 inches of water is put on your lawn. The water penetrates deeply and remains there for most of the week because you have kept your grass long with lots of thatch to prevent evaporation of moisture from the soil. The grassroots are going to go deep after the water making the lawn stronger and more able to survive dry periods.

A strong healthy lawn will be better able to withstand any weeds that try to gain a hold on the lawn. Weed seedlings will be unable to penetrate the thatch and you will have a natural green lawn absent of weeds as a result.

Natural Water sources or Rain

The amount of watering you do will vary throughout the growing season. In the spring you will usually receive more rain and the need for watering will be less, while in the summer during dryer times, you may need to water more often. You can check how dry your soil is by taking a shovel and digging a small hole to see just who much moisture is in the soil. A moisture meter can also be used, however for most people just digging a small hole will be sufficient.

If the soil is dry, you know it is time to start watering. You may want to water for a couple of hours, let the water oak in, and then add another inch of water on the lawn to make sure that there is deep penetration.

Test Your Watering System

If you are wondering how to tell how much water is getting on your lawn, all you need to do is place a small can that is open at the end. After an hour of watering, check the water level in the can to see how much water is in it. After you have done this a few times you will soon know without the can when the lawn has had enough water.

These natural green lawn care methods are an easy way to ensure that you will have a green lawn.  We welcome comments about lawn care, organic lawn care, and natural green lawn care.  We have talked about lawn height and the amount of watering on your lawn. Our next post will discuss the application of fertilizer on your lawn in the next step to having a great lawn.

What is Purely Organic Lawn Care? We saw this term being used to advertise lawn care services and products and wondered what this really meant? It is also in line with the last few posts that we have written on this site about lawn care and how to have a really great lawn without having to use a lot of pesticides.

Well, it turns out that purely organic lawn care is really a system or set of steps that you follow that prohibits the use of pesticides and employs processes that really are aimed at helping your lawn fight the onset of weeds and to also stay healthy. We thought it would be useful to discuss some of these in the next series of posts since it is spring and this is the best time really to give your lawn a healthy start for the year. If you are not following a purely organic lawn care approach, consider how easy it is before you throw all of those chemicals on the lawn.

Purely Organic Lawn Care

In summary, what is Purely Organic Lawn Care? here is a list of things or steps that should provide you with one of the best healthy-looking lawns in the neighborhood:

• Mow high grass mow high weeds
• Lawnmower
• Lawn care must do: water infrequently
• Fertilizer:
• Lawn care pH:
• Weeds:
• Lawn Care Enhancements:
• Lawn Care Providers
  • What variety of grass should I plant?
  • My soil is more like dirt. How do I improve it?
  • How do I get rid of mushrooms?
  • My grass is all thin and dry looking, what is your advice on overseeding?

Over the next few posts, we will go into each of these in more detail and explain some of the reasoning behind each of these suggestions for following a purely organic lawn care approach. It may take a bit more care and work than it would achieve that golf green type lawn, but it will be worth it when you can claim that you are not using any pesticides on your lawn!

The main criteria to remember is that a healthy strong lawn will always make your job of a healthy lawn and achieving purely organic lawn care easy. A healthy lawn can compete with the weeds and also withstand dry periods much easier. Let’s look at this in more detail.

Mow high grass mow high weeds

There are lots of advantages to allowing your grass to grow higher. By high grass we, first of all, mean that you should set your lawn mower at its highest height to allow the grass to grow properly and for the roots to grow deeper as well. Longer grass provides more room for thatch to build up. This prevents moisture from evaporating around the base of the lawn and it also prevents the seeds of weeds from penetrating to the ground and taking root. those that do begin to grow must fight to gain the sunlight and mature. your lawn can compete very well in this condition.

Allow the grass to grow longer also causes the roots to grow deeper as well. As the ground dries out during a dry spell, the long roots will be able to access the water that is lower down in the earth. The weeds try to do the same thing, however, their best growing is at the top of the weed plant and when you cut these off with your lawnmower and also have thick grass, they have a very difficult time competing with the grass.

Why is it Important to Have longer Grass?

Longer grass blades have more to work with in terms of photosynthesis. using sunlight and water from the roots they can produce the essential nutrients that are needed for strong root growth. Short grass means short roots, while long grass means long roots and a healthy lawn.

In our next post, we will talk about how often you should water your lawn and the impact you have when you water often for a short time vs. watering for a long time once a week. Your comments are welcome and any hints regarding looking after lawns are welcome, especially those of you who enjoy a purely organic lawn care approach.

This post is about Lawn Care in Ottawa. The reason we decided to do a post about Lawn Care in  Ottawa is that we noticed last year when we passed through the city that the place is just filled with dandelions and after some investigation found that the city does not allow pesticides to be used to kill the weeds. They claim that this is driven by environmental issues. However, I suspect that the city is saying we can save a lot of money by not spraying and killing off these dandelions.

The place is filled with them. As a result, homeowners seem to have given up as well on their lawns. It is a potential bonanza for lawn care specialists in Ottawa. However, it seems that many people just do not care enough or do not want to spend money on lawn care. It can be a bit frustrating to see all of those dandelion seeds floating through the air onto your lawn. You know that they are going to take root and grow. All it takes is a few minutes a week to remove the dandelions.

Lawn Care Ottawa can be Pretty Simple

It is actually not that hard to keep your lawn looking nice. Just spend a little time and follow some simple steps. Remember that a healthy lawn can fight weeds more easily if it is healthy and thick. We have seen some lawns that are obviously being taken care of by someone who cares and is doing it the right way. There are no dandelions in their lawns. Here are some simple steps to maintain a healthy lawn:

• Fertilize four times per year
• Water once per week when it is dry
• Apply a bag of lawn seed once per year in the spring
• Let your lawn grow longer during dry periods, one inch will do
• Apply weed killer if allowed in your area
• Pull weeds anytime you see one

The last point may be a pain for many people, however, if you go around once a week or once every two weeks and pull any weeds you see, you will be surprised at how little time it takes. Staying on top of this and not allowing the lawn to get to the stage that is shown in the picture will make your job easy. Once it gets to the stage that this lawn is in, it is a big job to dig out all of the dandelions. There is a lot, so you may want to use some sort of weak killer. Or just take a few hours and pull them yourself. Once it is done, it will only take 5 minutes once per week to maintain your lawn. Keep it in great condition in terms of weeds.

Companies in Ottawa

There are many lawn care companies in Ottawa and other locales. In my experience, they do a good job,. But they do not get the edges along sidewalks and fences and this is where the weeds get a foothold and make their way into your lawn. If you can afford it hire a lawn care company, otherwise spend the time to have a great lawn. Come on Ottawa, get out there and pull weeds. make your lawn healthy also improves the curb appeal of your home as well.

Well, that is about it for lawn care Ottawa. If you have comments that will be valuable for our readers we will be happy to approve them. Comments that have links will also be approved if the comment is helpful to our readers, otherwise, they will just be deleted.

 Our site has been pretty focused on lawn mower reviews for the past year and we thought that since the spring is coming, it is timely to do a few posts about lawn care and how to get that golf green look! In our travels, we see many lawns in various states of health. Some are pristine and it is obvious that the owners take great care of their lawns. They want a great looking lawn that looks fantastic and that adds to the beauty of their home. A great looking lawn also adds to the curb appeal of the home.

Curb appeal for those of you who may not be aware of is that first impression you get when you come to a home for the first time.  A healthy green lawn adds to the curb appeal and creates a positive impression for anyone visiting.

On the other end of the scale, we have all seen them. The lawns that have never been cared for, often full of weeds and really looking bad. In the dry summer months, the only thing that is green is the weeds that are growing on the lawn. The grass has wilted and gone into hibernation until the next rain comes along. The owners certainly do not water the lawns at all. It is unfortunate, but these people make it difficult for everyone else in the neighborhood. The seeds from these weeds blow to our lawns as well. What is surprising is that it really does not take much effort to maintain a good looking lawn.

Simple Lawn Care Steps to Keep Your Lawn Healthy

• Fertilize four times a year
• Water once per week
• Apply weed killer several times a year
• Pull all weeds that you see so they cannot get started
• Cut your lawn at regular intervals so that no more than 1 inch is cut at a time

Lawn Care the Easy Way

Many people just do not want to put in the effort to have a great lawn. Some do not want to spend the money and we will deal with it in a later paragraph. Lawn care can be really simple.  A healthy lawn can be maintained by simply making sure that the lawn is watered regularly and that the weeds are killed off. Hire a lawn care company that comes at regular intervals to spray your lawn and kill off the weeds. Add a bag of grass seed in the spring.

Although you will not have a perfect lawn, your lawn will be at the 95% level. It gets expensive and time-consuming to get to that last 5%, but at least you have a healthy lawn. A healthy lawn will help to keep the weeds down since they cannot get started if there is lots of strong healthy grass. Cut the lawn on regular intervals and fertilize 4 times a year. You can do these last steps yourself or you can hire a lawn care company to do all of this for you.

Lawn Care Doing It Yourself

If you do not have the money or just prefer to do your own lawn care, it is not that hard and does not take that much time. We listed the main steps above that a person should follow to enable a beautiful lawn. It is as simple as that. During the dry summer months, allow your lawn to grow a bit longer so that the lawn insulates the soil and prevents moisture from evaporating quickly. You can easily do this by raising the height of your lawnmower by an inch to allow the grass to grow longer. lower it again in the fall when it is cooler and more rain usually falls.

Another step that I follow in addition to the above that we mentioned at the beginning of the post is to go around and dig out any weeds you see. I try to go around once every two weeks and using a wide blade dig out the weeds I see by the root. It only takes about 5 minutes and it prevents these weeds from getting established and killing the grass around them. We have a lot of dandelions in our area and they have wide leaves, long roots that go deep and they seem to thrive even in the driest conditions. Dig these out at regular intervals to maintain your lawn and prevent them from taking over!

Comments are welcome. Comments that are aimed at lawn care and provide ideas about maintaining a great lawn are accepted even with a link back to your site. All other comments will be deleted. We want comments that our readers will find helpful.

Should you invest money into repairing your lawn mower or should you invest  in a brand new lawn mower? Many people are faced with this dilemma every year and sometimes it is difficult to know just how much you should spend or when you should just send the old one to the dump. I was recently faced with this problem and fortunately for me, there were lots of sales on at the time and I was able to get a really good deal on a self propelled lawn mower for just under $200.

Repairs to my 32 year old lawn mower were going to cost me around $100,  so there was no decision really. I may have been able to fix it myself, but frankly after 32 years, I figured it was time to get a new self propelled model so it was more of “I want” kind of decision than an economic one.

Regular Maintenance will Keep Your Old Lawn Mower going

For years I had self repaired my lawn mower. I changed the oil every year, replaced the spark plug every couple of years and sharpened the blade myself as well. These were all basic maintenance things that I could do myself and kept my lawn mower running smoothly for many years. Unfortunately the body began to rust out and there was really nothing I could do for it. In fact it was becoming dangerous to operate, so it was time to replace it. As I mentioned I was able to get a great deal on a new on at Lowes.

Not everyone can do the repairs that I did. Many do not want to be bothered with these sorts of things either. Some of my neighbors never even change the oil in their lawn mowers. They just keep going on the same old engine oil until the engine just seizes up from really bad oil after a couple of years. By the time you take your lawn mower into a small engine shop, pay for the tune up and oil change and pick it up again, you have invested time and money in a machine that is not really worth that much. You can purchase a new lawnmower for under $200. It begins to get close to a replacement option that is more reasonable than doing repairs.

Repairing Your Old Lawn Mower

For folks with jobs or people with lots of money, they probably cannot be bothered with changing oil or repairing their old lawn mowers. Just buy a new one. But what if you are living on a fixed income. Or are unemployed and you need to stretch every dollar as far as possible? Doing your own repairs becomes almost necessary!

If you do it yourself, it can be pretty reasonable vs. paying a small engine mechanic to do repairs and change oil. If they charge $20 and hour, and it takes an hour to do the work then you can save yourself $20. You still have to pay for oil and any parts you need. But you are saving yourself money. Maintaining the engine and body in excellent working order will also ensure that your lawn mower lasts for many years.

Rule of thumb for Deciding on New vs. Repairing Your Lawn Mower

This is my rule of thumb. When it comes to the decision process re fix an old lawn mower vs. purchase a new one.

• Can I repair it myself
• What will the parts costs
• What will it cost to have a small engine mechanic do the repairs
• How much does a new lawn mower cost
• Can I sell my old one and for how much

If the repairs are 50% of the cost of a new lawn mower, I would be tempted to just go for the new lawn mower. Chances are that once these repairs are completed and paid for, there may be more more repairs a year from now. Purchase a new one now. For me 50% is the rule of thumb I use. However for some of our readers your decision point may be higher or lower. It depends on your personal situation and criteria.

Satisfaction with Self Propelled Lawn Mower

By the way I am very happy with my new self propelled lawn mower. This is the first time I have had one. Although I really did not need the self propulsion system, it is a breeze to cut the lawn. In addition this particular lawn mower is 2 inches wider. It is surprising the amount of time it saves me in time when I am cutting the lawn.

The old lawn mower was placed along the curb the night before garbage day. Someone came along and picked it up. Hopefully they will repair it and someone will be able to continue using it.

We have written a number of posts about selecting a new lawn mower. Find the features that are right for you. Take a look at these posts to help you with your decision to purchase a new lawn mower if you decide to go in that direction.

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It is always a good idea to keep your lawn mower tuned up and ready to go for the summer lawn cutting season. But sometimes they just will not start and you need to know what to do before calling for expensive repairs or just chucking it and buying a new one. There are 4 or 5 steps to take before you raise the flag so to speak and call in someone to help. We will cover these issues regarding Lawn Mower Starter Problems for you in the following post.

Of course if you are handy then you can take it a lot further, but for now we will settle for these simple steps to get your lawn mower started.

• Check the Choke and Throttle
• Make sure there is Gasoline in the Tank
• Clean Your Spark Plugs
• Clean the Carburetor
• Change or Clean the Air and Fuel filters
• Call a Mechanic or a Good Friend

These are all pretty basic, but one word of caution, before you look underneath, always disconnect the spark plug to prevent the engine from accidentally starting while your hands are underneath.

Dealing with Lawn Mower Starter Problems

Check the Choke and Throttle

Most lawn mowers have a choke and throttle which must be in specific positions depending on whether the engine is hot or cold. Check your manual and make sure they are in the right position when you are trying to start the engine. Some of the newer lawn mowers have chokes that are automatic so all you need to do is make sure the throttle is in the right position. Pretty easy for most people.

Make sure there is Gasoline in the Tank

You might laugh at this one. Who would not make sure that there is gasoline in the engine. Well it happens more often than you might imagine.  I have worked around lawn mowers for many years and it has even happened to me. In my case I never checked the lawn mower after finishing the lawn one day. Apparently the gas tank was empty and so next time it started and only ran for a minute or two. It took me about five minutes to figure out that I should check the gas tank to make sure there was gas in it. Some people get as far as taking their lawn mower to a mechanic only to find out that all it needed was gas in the gas tank. So make sure that there is gas in the tank.

Clean Your Spark Plugs

If your lawn mower is a few years old or even older, spark plugs will get dirty and corroded. Sometimes they get so bad that the corrosion stops the spark from igniting. If you cannot get your lawn mower to run, take out the spark plug, clean it up, file the metal contacts a little bit so there is shiny metal showing and re-gap it. If you are up to it make sure that there is a spark.

Put on a pair of gloves, make sure the spark plug wire is connected and hold the spark plug engine end against a meal object. Make sure sure there is no gasoline around that could accidentally be ignited. Crank the engine slowly and you should see a spark between the two electrodes. If you are not holding it right, you could also get a good shock!

Clean the Carburetor

This may not be for everyone, however if your carburetor is dirty or gummed up from  old gasoline left over winter, you will need to clean the carburetor. Check your manual for the proper procedure and then reset all of the settings for the lawn mowers carburetor.

Change or Clean the Air and Fuel filters

Sometimes it is very dusty when you are cutting the lawn and the filters can get dirty preventing the engine from running smoothly. It is a simple matter, following your instruction book, to change the filters so that your engine is getting sufficient air and clean gasoline. Most engines will run with dirty filters, but they may sputter or back fire occasionally and they will run rough. This could be one of the reasons!

Lawn Mower Starter Problems – Call a Mechanic or a Good Friend

If none of the above worked for you, it might be time to call in a professional mechanic. Or perhaps a good friend who knows their way around a lawn mowers engine. While you are at it, make sure they change the oil in the engine as well. Always ask for an estimate of the repairs to make sure there are no surprises. If they are high, you may want to consider buying a new lawn mower instead of getting expensive repairs completed.

Our next post is going to discuss whether it is cheaper to buy or get your old one repaired. Man perfectly good lawn mowers are being thrown out because the cost to repair them is just too high. check out next weeks post, “Repairing Your lawn Mower vs Buying New”, if you would like more information on this subject.

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Summer is just around the corner and it is time to begin thinking about selecting a lawnmower that you need to keep your yard and grass looking great. We have put together a few ideas and tips to help you make the decision regarding which lawn mower will best fit your needs. There are many different manufacturers, sizes, types, and features that can be considered. Take a look at some of our thoughts about how to select a lawnmower.

Regardless of when you are planning to buy, whether it is now in the spring or later in the summertime, we thought that these tips for selecting a new lawnmower would help you when it comes time to make your selection.

Selecting a Lawn Mower

Also, refer to our previous post, find the best lawn mower for your money, to help make your decision. Here are a few ideas about making your selection.

• Mulch, Grass Catchers, or Spread Cuttings on the Lawn
• Narrow vs. Wider lawn Mowers
• Large Lawn Areas really need Gas Machines
• Focus on the Basics you need and add Bonus Features
• How Much Physical Effort can You Handle?

Mulch, Grass Catchers, or Spread Cuttings on the Lawn

Many lawn mowers come with all 3 options, however, some do not so it is important to decide which cutting option you need for your lawn. Mulching is by the far the best since you do not need to bag or rake the grass cuttings and the grass cuttings will disintegrate and re-fertilize your lawn as they are absorbed back into your lawn. If you have long grass, mulching typically does not work very well, so you will need to either bag your grass clippings with an attached grass catcher or rake the lawn afterward, neither is fun to do especially the raking part.

Narrow vs. Wider lawn Mowers

The wider the lawnmower, the more quickly you will finish cutting the lawn. A wide lawn mower can save a lot of time, however, many people forget the fact that they need to store their lawn mower somewhere, and if your garage is small, you need to take this into account.

Large Lawn Areas really need Gas Machines

Electric machines work well on small lawns and you do not need a long extension cord to mow these lawns. Rechargeable lawn mowers are now available, however, you want to make sure that you can cut the entire lawn on one battery charge! Most people will find that they are better off with a gas-powered machine on large lawns, simply for the flexibility and no need to make sure that the battery is charged or trail a long cord along after you.

Focus on the Basics you need and add Bonus Features

Electric vs. Gas; mulching, grass catching and/or spreading grass clippings on the lawn, size of lawnmower, reliability, reviews from other customers, and of course price are the important basic elements that you should be considering. Make your decisions about these and then give some thought about other features that you may be interested in.

Features such as auto choke, propulsion systems,  folding handles, and other features too numerous to mention depending on the manufacturer and the size and price of the machine you are considering.

How Much Physical Effort Can You Handle?

If you have a large lawn, you may want to consider a riding lawnmower. Or at the very least a self-propelled lawnmower. I recently purchased one, not because I needed a self-propelled lawnmower, but because the price was so good. Anyway, it is front-wheel drive and very easy to steer and makes grass cutting a pleasure.  All you need to do is walk behind it and steer. No need to push it up hills or in difficult areas. You let the machine pull you along at its own speed. This is something to consider if you need help with your lawn or do not want to push your lawnmower around a large lawn area.

Selecting a Lawn Mower – Summary

Spend a few minutes thinking about which features are the most important for your personal situation. Then look for the best deal across several vendors.

Hopefully, these tips will help readers make decisions about which lawn mower to purchase, whether you are taking advantage of the sales in the spring or picking one up in the fall before the winter season begins. For more thoughts and ideas about buying a lawnmower, click here.

There are lots of features to choose from when it comes to buying a lawnmower. They are an expensive purchase so you will want to select the best lawn mower for your money. We decided to write this post to help you make your decision and provide some thoughts to help you chose the right machine for your needs and for your money. Find the best lawnmower for your money. The first step is to figure out what features are must-haves and those that are nice to have. The second step is to establish what the regular price is for a lawnmower with these features and then watch for sale prices before you make a purchase.

Finding the best lawn mower for your money is more than the cost. You want to find the right lawnmower that meets your needs, with a good reputation for reliability and service at the best price you can find. Part of this decision is to make sure you make the right choices for features that will meet your needs now and in the years to come.

Find the Best LawnMower for Your Money

Basic decisions include:

•  Gas or Electric
• Hand start or Electric start for gas models
• Self-propelled or push lawn mower
• Lawn  size
• Storage location
• Watch for Sales

Gas or Electric

Many people are pretty focused on electric machines, either the rechargeable battery type or those that trail a long cord and plug into the outside wall outlet. They want to protect the environment and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. There is certainly less pollution in your area and you do not need to worry about storing gasoline and oils which is obviously better for the environment in your area for sure.  However, if your electricity is generated by a local coal plant or oil-fired plant then you may not be really not improving the environment too much. Something to consider.

The other major issue is to make sure that the rechargeable battery on your lawnmower is sufficient to cut all of your lawn, otherwise, you have to recharge before you can complete cutting your lawn or purchase another battery. If you have the chord type, you also need to ensure that the chord will be long enough for your particular yard. Depending on your assessment, you may choose a gas-powered lawnmower.
Hand start or Electric start for gas models

Self-propelled or push lawn mower

You will definitely enjoy a self-propelled lawnmower however it can be a bit if overkill if you have a small flat lawn. You will pay more money for one of these machines than a standard push lawnmower. It really comes down to the size of the lawn that is being cut and whether it is flat or not vs. how much work you want to do vs. your pocketbook. It is a really great feature and more and more lawn mowers are being made available with this feature.

Lawn  size

Wider, larger lawnmowers will save you time when it comes to cutting the lawn. It is as simple as that, however, they also cost more. If you have a small postage stamp size lawn, don’t waste your money on a large lawnmower. If it takes you 3 hours to cut the lawn every weekend, you will really appreciate the larger wider cut and the time it saves.  Also, it is time vs. how much money you want to spend.

Storage location

I like to store my lawnmower indoors which in my case means my garage. I can get it in with two cars and a snowblower so I am ok. However, I also have an average size lawnmower. Any larger and I would have a problem finding a place to store it when I am not using it.

Decide where you plan to store yours and measure the space to make sure your space is large enough to handle the lawn mower you intend to purchase.

Watch for Sales

Once you have made a decision on these basic features, it is time to watch for sales. The best time to find the best sales is near the end of the season, however, you may be somewhat limited in the choice of lawnmowers available to you.  Dealers do not want to carry inventory into the winter so they would rather sell it at a lower price instead of keeping these units for another 8 to 9 months.

At some locations, you might even be able to negotiate with them to get a better deal. Don’t hold back on your quest for the best deal. Remember that the worst thing that can happen when you ask for a better price is that they say no, that is the best price. However, if they knock another 10% off the cost of the lawnmower you want to purchase, you are way ahead as a result. I always like the money in my pocket vs. someone else!

For more about Find the Best Lawn Mower for Your Money when buying a lawnmower, click here.

John Deere Self Propelled Lawn Mowers lists on its web site, the JS26, the JS36 and the JS46 all steel deck lawn mowers that are in the category of walk behind lawn mowers.  They come with a variety of features that may appeal to urban dwellers who like to mow their own lawns. They come with grass catchers, mulchers and side discharge so they are very flexible and can be used in most situations. These are all powered lawn mowers and by that we mean they are all self propelled. All you need to do is engage the drive and steer them. Some owners have had excellent results and some have not. We have reviewed each of these in detail on our site. If you are interested in more detail and comments by various readers, you can click one of the following links: John Deere JS26 , John Deere JS36 , John Deere JS46

Popular John Deere Self Propelled Lawn Mowers

These John Deere models have been receiving a lot of hits on our blog, so obviously there is a lot of interest in these models. Comments have ranged from fantastic to people who would never purchase another lawn mower of one of these models again.

We are really trying to assist readers to help them find good reliable equipment. If you have one of these lawn mowers, please leave your comments and recommendations for other readers to review. Always take proper care of your lawn mower, maintain it and change the oil regularly. As a result the engines will last for ever if you do.

Our next post will continue in the objective of reviewing additions makes and models from various manufacturers.

The following table compares the basic attributes of these three lawn mowers. They provide the reader with a high level view of the features of each. There are many more features and specifications which prospective buyers are interested in. However these are the main features that most consider first.  Width of the cut, power of the engine, propulsion and height adjustment.

Comparison Table

Also whether you have an option to collect the grass , mulch it or spread it over the lawn through the side discharge.  For more information, go to our reviews on these models by clicking on the following links, John Deere JS26, John Deere JS36, John Deere JS46

Hope this helps everyone.

This is a short review showing the specifications only for the John Deere JS46. If you would like the full review, visit the original page by clicking here. This is a 22 inch wide machine suitable for most urban lawns used mainly by consumers. Professional lawn care contractors prefer wider machines to cut grass more quickly. This lawn mower is aimed at consumers who like the ease of use for starting as well as only needing to steer and let the lawn mower do all of the work.

This lawn mower is 22 inches wide , self propelled from the rear and has a 3 in one deck – grass catcher, side discharge or mulching capability.  A mulching lawn mower requires a lot less work in terms of either raking grass clippings or emptying the grass clippings our of the rear bag into a disposal bag of some kind.  Refer to the main review page for additional comments by other readers as well.

John Deere JS46 Specifications:

• 8.75 pound foot of torque
• 190 cc ( 11.6 cu inch) Briggs & Stratton engine
• 4 cycle, OHV engine
• 22 inch steel deck
• 1 lever adjustment system for all  wheels
• 3 in 1 discharge

Engine: 190 cc ( 11.6 cu inch) Briggs & Stratton engine

Propulsion: Variable speed , rear wheel drive

Warranty: 2 year limited warranty

Features:

• Electric start with recoil start backup
• Fixed speed throttle
• Operator presence required to operate the lawn mower
• Side discharge
• Mulching deck
• Rear bag grass catcher
• 8 inch by 2 inch front wheels; 9 inch by 2 inch rear wheels
• Fixed speed rear wheel drive

One of the features that almost everyone finds useful is the electric start capability. There is a pull cord, however for anyone that has difficulty starting in the manual way by pulling the chord, they will find that the push button start on this machine is very handy. Not everyone has the strength to pull the chord fast enough to start the engine, or perhaps there is some physical issue that prevents you from pulling the chord. Just push the button to start it , engage the drive and you are off to cutting your lawn.

Lawns with a Slope

If you have a slope on your lawn, the rear wheel drive will make cutting this lawn very easy for most people. Cuttingt the lawn on a downwards cut it will be much easier even with a self propelled lawn mower. If you must climb the slope, the self propelled drive will make it a much easier task. The safest way to cut a lawn with a significant slope is to cut across the lawn to avoid slipping and being caught under the lawn mower and the spinning blades. Why not consider either a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive lawn mower today.

This is a short review showing the specifications only for the John Deere JS36. If you would like the full review, visit the original page by clicking here. This is a 22-inch wide lawn mower machine suitable for most consumers’ lawns, with average size lawns. If you are mowing a large lawn and are interested in reducing the time it takes to mow your lawn, you may want to consider something wider that cuts a wider swath each time you cross the lawn. A wider lawn mower can save you a lot of time each week when you mow the lawn.

John Deere JS36  – comments

This particular lawn mower has 14 comments on the main page at the time of updating this post, most of them negative, with the exception of two comments. One owner loves his machine, and it seems to run well for him. The other semi-positive comment was from a lawn mower mechanic who ended up with this lawn mower from a customer. It turns out the lawn mower had never had the oil changed in it, there was water in the oil, and it was black. The engine was overheating, and it was hard to start and causing problems. Consumers should always provide the required maintenance for their lawnmowers regardless of the type that they own. The John Deere is no different.

As a lawn mower review website, we urge consumers to look after their equipment. Follow the owners’ manual instructions for changing the oil at least once a year and more often if you run the engine for long periods. If you take care of them, these engines will work for many years. We are not sure if this was the problem for the other owners with the negative comments; however, head off to the main site if you are interested in seeing their comments.

Refer to the main review page for additional comments by other readers.

 Specifications:

• 190 cc or 11.6 cubic inch displacement
• 7-pound foot of torque Briggs and Stratton Engine
• 4-cycle side valve
• 22-inch steel deck
• 3 in 1 discharge
• 8-inch by 2-inch front, 9-inch by 2-inch back wheels

Engine: 190 cc or 11.6 cubic inch displacement,4 cycle side valve, Briggs and Stratton Engine

Propulsion: Variable speed, rear-wheel drive

Warranty: 2-year warranty

Features:

• Throttle control is fixed speed
• Operator presence
• Zone control
• Side discharge, mulch, rear bag 2.5 bushels
• One lever adjusts all four wheels

We decided to include a few comments about maintaining lawnmowers in this post. We are conditioned to change our cars’ oil every 3000 miles, so why do we not take care of our lawn mower engines? The answer seems to be that we will take our cars to the mechanic. It is easy to do, and we do not get our hands dirty. With a lawn mower, even if you want to take it to a mechanic, you will get your hands dirty just by lifting it into the car. Many people cannot lift this weight, so they don’t bother.

They could change the oil themselves; however, they would need the tools and would need to dispose of the oil properly. For many, it is easier to ignore it and hope for the best. The lawn mower engine will get hard to start, and it will begin to burn oil when it does start and will not run smoothly. Eventually, it will just quit because the oil in the engine has not been changed.

That’s our theory, and we wonder if people agree or disagree with this opinion.

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This is a short review showing the specifications only for the John Deere JS26. If you want the full review, visit the original page by clicking here.  This is a 22-inch wide machine suitable for most urban lawns.  Refer to the main review page for additional comments by other readers. This is a very nice machine with many features suitable for many consumers in urban settings. Mulch, discharge, or bag your grass clippings. A similar lawn mower to this with these kinds of features is really perfect for our lawn.

I used to bag all of my grass cuttings, and now I wonder why I ever used a lawn mower with a bag system. With a mulch lawn mower cutting the lawn is so much easier and a lot less work. Many lawnmowers have this 3 in one option, but we have to say that mulching is by far the best configuration to use.

We really like the front wheel propulsion for our lawn,  even though it is a level lawn. Cutting the lawn is really effortless, and all you need to do to slow down or change direction is to lean slightly on the handle, which lifts the front wheels off the ground. When this occurs, you have less traction, and the forward speed naturally slows down. You can also easily turn the lawn mower in this configuration as well. Just lean on the handle and turn the mower, let it down, and away you go. We like this configuration much better than the rear-wheel drive configuration for lawnmowers.

John Deere JS26 – Specifications:

• 7.0-pound foot of torque
• 190 cc ( 11.6 cu inches) Briggs & Stratton engine
• 4-cycle, side valve engine
• 22-inch steel deck
• 3-point adjustment system for wheels
• 3 in 1 discharge

Engine: 190 cc ( 11.6 cu inches) Briggs & Stratton engine

Propulsion: Variable speed, front-wheel drive

Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

Features:

• Fixed speed throttle
• Operator presence required to operate the lawn mower
• Side discharge
• Mulching deck
• 8-inch by 2-inch wheels
• Variable speed front wheel drive

We also only use the lawn mower in mulch mode, saving a great deal of time. We no longer need to bag the grass clippings and then put them in the garbage. The grass clippings go right back into the lawn, so the nutrients are added back in, and the grass clippings protect the roots from the hot sun. The ground does not dry out as fast on those hot summer days.

We also do not have to rake heavy grass clippings and then bag them to be placed into the garbage. We have a compost bin and used to place our grass clippings in the bins. They would get full, and then we would have to empty them and turn them over while adding ground to the clippings to increase the natural decay of the clippings, which is a lot of hard work. No longer. It is so easy cutting the grass now with this lawn mower’s features, such as the mulching blade. We also do not have those stinky garbage bags full of grass clippings that are slowly rotting while we wait for garbage day. Our garbage is only picked up every two weeks! You can imagine what condition those grass clippings would be in at the end of two weeks.

Check out our main page for this lawn mower for more information and comments from various readers.

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